Psalms 56
1 For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Silent Dove in Distant Lands.” A poem by David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. Be merciful to me, God, for man wants to swallow me up. All day long, he attacks and oppresses me.
God, be merciful to me because men have harassed me; all day my enemies pursue me.
2 My enemies want to swallow me up all day long, for they are many who fight proudly against me.
My enemies harass me all day long; there are many of them who proudly attack me.
3 When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.
But whenever I am afraid, I trust in you.
4 In God, I praise his word. In God, I put my trust. I will not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?
God, I praise/thank you because you do what you have promised; I trust in you, and then I am not afraid. Ordinary humans certainly cannot [RHQ] harm me!
5 All day long they twist my words. All their thoughts are against me for evil.
All day long my enemies claim that I said things that I did not say (OR, try to destroy what I am doing); they are always thinking of ways to harm me.
6 They conspire and lurk, watching my steps. They are eager to take my life.
In order to cause trouble for me, they hide and watch everything that I do, waiting for [an opportunity] to kill me [MTY].
7 Shall they escape by iniquity? In anger cast down the peoples, God.
So, God, punish them for the wicked things that they are doing; show that you are angry by defeating those people!
8 You count my wanderings. You put my tears into your container. Aren’t they in your book?
You have counted [all] the times that I have been wandering alone/distressed; [it is as though] you have put [all] my tears in a bottle [in order that you can see how much I have cried]. [You have counted my tears and written] the number in your book.
9 Then my enemies shall turn back in the day that I call. I know this: that God is for me.
When I call out to you, [my] God, my enemies will be defeated; I know that will happen, because you are fighting for me.
10 In God, I will praise his word. In Yahweh, I will praise his word.
I praise/thank you that you do what you have promised; Yahweh, I [will always] praise you for that [DOU].
11 I have put my trust in God. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
I trust in you, and as a result, I will not be afraid. I know that humans cannot really [RHQ] harm me!
12 Your vows are on me, God. I will give thank offerings to you.
I will bring to you the offering that I promised; I will bring an offering to you to thank you,
13 For you have delivered my soul from death, and prevented my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living.
because you have rescued me from being killed; you have kept me from stumbling. As a result, I will continue to live in your presence in the light that [shines on those who are still] alive (OR, in the light that [enables people to] live).
